Advertising

KeiVarae Russell

CB

#20

2018 SEASON

Advertising

Biography

Russell in 2017 played his second NFL season, adding depth to the Bengals’ defensive backfield and seeing time on both defense and special teams ... Recorded eight tackles in 46 snaps on defense in ’17, and had one tackle and a blocked FG in 90 snaps on special teams ... Originally a third-round draft selection of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2016, he was waived by Chiefs and claimed by Bengals prior to Game 2 of ’16 ... Has one career INT — a diving grab late in the fourth quarter of ’16 season finale vs. Baltimore, helping seal a Bengals win.

Career transactions: Selected by Kansas City in third round of 2016 NFL Draft (73rd overall) ... Signed with Chiefs on 6-3-16 ... Waived by Chiefs on 9-14-16 ... Acquired on waivers by Cincinnati on 9-15-16.

2017 highlights: Played in eight games (no starts) ... Inactive for Game 3 with a hamstring injury, as well as Games 2, 7, 9, 11-12 and 15-16 (coaches’ decisions) ... Totaled eight tackles on defense (all solos) and one tackle on special teams ... Blocked a FG on Nov. 19 at Denver late in the second quarter, preserving Cincinnati’s six-point advantage at halftime ... Had five total tackles on defense on Oct. 1 at Cleveland ... Recorded three tackles on defense on Dec. 10 vs. Chicago ... Played in all four preseason games ... Finished fourth on the team in preseason with 12 total tackles (11 solos).

Previous seasons: 2016—Played in all four of Kansas City’s preseason games, logging seven tackles ... Inactive for Chiefs in Game 1, and inactive for Bengals in Games 2-10 and 15 ... Played for Bengals in Games 11-14 and 16 ... On Jan. 1 vs. Baltimore, made an impressive diving INT along the sideline to get INT off Baltimore’s Ryan Mallett, helping seal a Bengals win.

College: Played three seasons (2012-13 and ’15) at Notre Dame ... Started all 37 of his games played ... Totaled 169 tackles (125 solo), including seven TFLs ... Had five INTs, two FFs, two sacks and six PDs ... Career-best 60 tackles as a senior.

Personal: Hometown is Everett, Wash. ... Attended Mariner High School, where he was a Class 4A all-state RB as a senior, rushing for 1293 yards and 14 TDs ... Majored in management consulting at Notre Dame ... Hobbies include traveling and writing/reading/appreciating poetry, acting/theatre and the arts ... First name is pronounced “kee-VAR-ay.”